10 Energy Efficient Upgrades for Homeowners You Can't Live Without

Energizing Homes with Upgrades That Save Money

Performing home upgrades and tweaking energy consumption behaviors to conserve energy can potentially save homeowners hundreds or even thousands of dollars annually depending on seasonal temperature fluctuations and resources uses to heat and cool a home. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, simply running air conditions at 78°F (a comfortable temperature when supported by energy upgrades) instead of 72°F may save homeowners as much as 18 percent on energy bills. Also, unplugging computers and other electronics when they aren't being used could save the average family around $75 annually, something easy made even easier with multiple outlet, plug-in strips.

10 Proven Energy Upgrades for Homeowners

In addition to incorporating numerous tweaks into the home, homeowners can rely on these energy efficient upgrades to save money without disrupting family lifestyles:

Installing window air conditioners on the shadiest side of a home where less sunlight strikes A/C units can potentially save homeowners several hundred dollars a year on summer cooling bills

Repairing or replacing ill-fitting windows that allow heat or cold to escape through bad seals, rotting frames or windows that were unprofessionally installed. A quick way to check for leaky windows is to close all doors and windows, light a stick of incense and pass the stick around a window's edges. If the smoke gets sucked out or blown, the window may have a leak.

Replacing older doors with energy efficient doors stops heat or air conditioning from escaping homes, like those in Fairfax. Wood doors that have shrunk and warped over the years often fail to seal a doorway properly, leaving small but measurable gaps in the frame. Energy efficient doors made of fiberglass often don't crack or shrink like wood doors and can provide consistent prevention of energy loss.

Replacing or repairing damaged roofs may prevent moisture from seeping into a home's interior that could reduce the integrity of walls, doors, windows and foundational components. In addition, since heat molecules are lighter than cold molecules, they tend to keep rising in the atmosphere until a solid object stops them. If a roof has numerous holes and missing shingles, heat molecules continue rising through a faulty roof without anything to stop them. Result—higher heating bills.

Insulating the attic floor can help keep heat in the lower part of a home. Although homeowners can blow insulation into walls, it may be easier and more affordable to lay about 10 to 12 inches of insulation on an attic floor.

Going solar. Solar panels harnessing the sun's energy to run an entire household can be an investment that typically pays for itself within a few years. It can also be a great way to avoid brownouts or energy disruptions during inclement weather.

Installing ceiling fans in larger rooms can reduce A/C and heating costs because ceiling fans can help push warm air down and circulate cooler air efficiently.